Week 11: Vikes v. Pack - The Rivalry Continues

Green Bay, WI - Per usual in the Q this year, the Vikings & Packers came into their Week 11 match-up tied for the division lead. Both sitting at 8-1, not having played their annual home & home series. While the Vikings have historically struggled at Lambeau, they came out firing on all cylinders in this one.

The Vikings would receive first, and marched down the field primarily behind the arm of QB Nick Foles as he used nearly the entire route tree on a 13-play drive that took up 80% of the first quarter. The drive ended with a TD pass to FB Jerome Felton. The Packers would move the ball, but their first drive would stall around the 50. The Vikings continued to move the ball with ease on their second drive, as the offensive coordinator mixed up the playcalling beautifully. Late in the 2nd quarter, after another 7+ minute drive, Jerome Felton would catch his 2nd TD pass of the game on a PA pass play from the 6, as GB had committed to the run on the play. 14-0 in favor of MN. On the Packers next drive, QB Samuels would throw deep into double coverage (a common theme of the day), and Xavier Rhodes would come down with the INT. The Vikings again would move the ball down the field, and settled for 3 as the half expired. Score at half: 17-0 in favor of MN.

The Packers would finally get things going on offense to start the 2nd half, but Samuels could only get them to the Viking 38. That said, the kicker made a nice FG to make it a 2-score game. The Vikings would mix things up on their first drive in the 2nd half, and finally started to run the ball with Savoie. However, their drive would also stall in GB territory, and a Walsh FG made it a 20-3 score late in the 3rd quarter. An INT by Pro Bowl MLB Kyren Rogers a few plays later would give Minnesota great field position, and again they would capitalize - this time a TD run by Jarrad Savoie. Score going into 4th - 27-3.

Not much action in the 4th quarter - the Viking D continued to stymie the prolific GB offense, another INT of Samuels. The only excitement in the 4th - with less than 2 minutes to play in the game, down 27-3, the Packers decided to call TO's as Minnesota downed the ball. They got the ball back, only to, on consecutive plays - 1) lose Randall Cobb for 6 weeks to a broken collarbone, then 2) a user hit stick caused a fumble that was recovered by Minnesota.

These two teams meet again in a couple of weeks. I'm sure coach Red will have revenge on his mind, as these two have split their annual series every year so far in the Q.